Buc-ee’s Expands with Focus on Conservative Values

The founder and CEO of Buc-ee’s, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, has emphasized that the company’s expansion across the U.S. will prioritize locations in conservative, business-friendly areas.

On Monday, fans celebrated the grand opening of Buc-ee’s first Arkansas location, an event attended by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Senator Tom Cotton.

“We have a lot of opportunities where we’re growing, we’re building … in a lot of places. But when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Aplin remarked during the event. “And I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing.”

Aplin explained that the company seeks out the “conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept” for new locations. He values when these attributes align with leadership from the state’s higher offices, including the governor’s and mayor’s offices, as well as local legislative representatives.

Huckabee Sanders shared a video of Aplin’s remarks on social media, adding, “That’s why red states like Arkansas are surging and people and businesses are fleeing blue state[s].”

Buc-ee’s, founded in 1982, is renowned for its large travel centers that offer spacious restrooms, beaver-themed merchandise, and a vast selection of food. Their stores often have more than 100 fuel pumps and are comparable in size to some supermarkets.

Currently, Buc-ee’s operates in 14 states, including Alabama, Arizona, and Virginia. Aplin also hinted at plans for additional locations in Arkansas, including one in West Memphis.